This week we speak with Marcus Bleechmore Vision Australia’s outgoing program manager for NDIS and My Aged Care. Marcus leaves the organisaiton after close to eight years. Hebe discussing his work with Vision Australia and his insights with the NDIS and My Aged Care .

Also on the program Daniel Pritchard from Victorian Goalball Association about the upcoming new season and we hear from Julie Scott from the vision shop.

Talking Vision celebrates International Women’s Day, 8th March, a day that both celebrates women’s achievements and highlights the ongoing concerns and the discrimination women face. This week we replay a speech from Theresa Smith-Ruig from Vision Australia’s 2017 Annual General Meeting held in October. Theresa received a Vision Australia Award for her contribution to the blindness and low vision sector. Theresa’s diligent work began in 2003, when she joined the Board of Blind Citizens Australia (BCA). She was elected to the Board of Vision Australia in 2007 and in the past 10 years has performed her duties as Director with diligence and dedication while juggling her career and parenting. As a PhD graduate in the area of career management and Senior Lecturer in Human Resource Management at the University of New England, Theresa has brought incredible insight to her role as member and, ultimately, the Chair of the People and Culture Committee. In her speech, Theresa recalls the pivotal moments in her life from losing her vision as a young girl, growing up on a rural property, life in a small town and how her mother, and then later herself, advocated for her right to choose her own education path.

Also on the program, a special reading of letters sent to our library from library members.

We speak with Rob Last AM, who was recently acknowledged on the Australia Day Honours list for his work as an early childhood educator for children who are blind and deaf blind and their families. And we speak with life long radio fan Stephen O'Connor from Vision Australia Radio's Shepparton studio.

Vision Australia is currently developing a range of guides to assist people to stand up for their rights when faced with discrimination. This week, we speak with Janet Renew from our Advocacy team who developed the guides and Nadia Mattiazzo who recently stood up for her rights when she was asked to leave a restaurant with her Seeing Eye Dog.

Tuesday 13 February was world radio day with the theme of sport and its ability to unite people, break down barriers and show case diversity. We speak with 17 year old Lucy who is playing her first season of blind cricket and president of BVIT (Blind and Low Vision Ten Pin Bowling) Glen Barwick about the national championships coming up in March. And Frances Keyland joins us for a special Valentine’s Reader Recommended.

This week, we speak with Chair of the board at Vision Australia, Andrew Moffat. Andrews discusses the challenges and rewards the role presents and his agenda for employment for people who are blind or have low vision.

Also on the program Jamila from our communications team joins us to present news, information and events from around your neck of the woods and beyond.

January 26th is Australia Day, a day that is marked by community and family events, reflections on Australian history, official community awards, and citizenship ceremonies welcoming new members of the Australian community.

In recognition of Australia Day, we replay one of the most popular interviews from 2017. Michael Abjoujundi was welcomed as an Australian citizen six years after fleeing his worn torn country of Syria.Michael has Stargardt’s disease and he recalls arriving in Australia with ‘no English, no family and no vision.’ His story is one of great courage and over-coming adversity both as an asylum seeker and a person with low vision.

He speaks with Stella about his life in Syria, his journey and settlement into Australian life as and his life at present and his plans for the future.

Professor Elizabeth Rakoczy recently won the prestigious Florey Medal for her work on a gene therapy for age-related wet macular degeneration. The Florey Medal is awarded biennially to an Australian biomedical researcher for significant lifetime achievements in biomedical science and / or human health advancement.

Professor Rakoczy speaks with Peter Greco from Vision Australia Radio’s Leisure Link program about the project that began twenty years ago with over 50 scientists involved.

Also on the program, Dans Le Noir (Dining in the Dark) has arrived in Melbourne. Guests enjoy a unique sensory experience and are served by staff who are blind or have low vision. Stella speaks with Chanael LENOIR from Dans Le Noir and Vision Australia National Employment Services Manager, Jan Hauser, about how the innovative project helps to highlight the many organisation that support people who are blind or have low vision in their everyday lives.

As a broadcaster, Stephen Kingsberry sets out to challenge the notion of what people who are blind can do. He has been winched up in a helicopter, has climbed though a submarine and has interviewed a range of subjects including Jeffery Archer.

Stephen presents his program on UK audio news and magazine service National Talking Express in the UK. He has also recently become an ambassador for UK charity Henshaws.

Stephen has an extended conversation with Stella on his early career, his love of audio and the people he has met over the years.

A Cane Called Wanda is the latest episode from the Stories of You podcast series produced and presented by Glen Morrow. Kitty Barry shares her honest and uplifting reflections of motherhood (she has twin girls), her achievements, which includes writing a children’s book, and very raw experiences of life as a person with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP).